In 2011 the Government introduced new laws to empower communities so that they could have a greater say in helping shape where they live and work through 'neighbourhood planning'. Town councils or designated neighbourhood forums can develop a shared vision and planning policies through a neighbourhood plan. Once passed, the plan becomes part of the statutory development plan and is used to determine planning applications alongside the local plan for that area.
Communities also have the ability to grant planning permission through Neighbourhood Development Orders (NDOs). An NDO can grant planning permission for specific types of development in a specific neighbourhood area.
In Bolton, two town councils, Blackrod and Horwich, and one neighbourhood forum, Over Hulton, are preparing neighbourhood plans. They have chosen the areas to be covered by the three neighbourhood plans, which we have endorsed.
For the latest position on progress please see the links to the dedicated websites prepared by each of the areas. Please note these are third party websites and we are not responsible for content or how up to date it is.
Blackrod Neighbourhood Plan
Blackrod Town Council submitted the proposed Blackrod Neighbourhood Plan to Bolton Council in June 2019. Bolton Council publicised the plan and the public were invited to make comments on it. The publicity period finished on Friday, 19th July 2019 and Bolton Council sent all the representations to an independent examiner.
The examiner submitted his report to Bolton Council and it is available on the downloads section of this page, together with the submitted Plan and its supporting documents. The examiner recommended that the Plan should proceed to referendum, subject to modifications.
The delayed referendum on the Neighbourhood Plan which was due to have been held on 26th March 2020 took place on 6th May 2021. The result was that 1595 people voted in favour of the plan with only 145 against. The plan came into force following its success at referendum and Bolton Council took the formal decision to “make” the plan on 23rd June 2021. The Blackrod Neighbourhood Plan now forms part of Bolton’s Development Plan and will be used in making planning decisions. With the exception of the report of the independent inspector and the decision statement which are available from the Blackrod Neighbourhood Plan downloads, all other documents, including the Neighbourhood Plan itself, can be found on the Blackrod Neighbourhood Plan referendum link.